Sliding-door lock



H. BENSON.

SLIDNG DOOR LOCK.

H. BENSON.

SLIDING DOOR LOCK.

APPLxcATloN FILED oEc.24.19xe.

Patented June 14, 1921.

UNiTED S'iFi'liS HARRY BENSGN, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFGRNIA.

SLIBIG-DGOR LOCK.

Application iled Beceinber f! 10 @ZZ fr0/7mm t may concern.'

Be it known that l, linear Benson, a citizen of the United States, residino' Alameda, in the county of Alameda and Sta-te of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sliding-Boor Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates 'to improvements in locks for sliding doors, particularly elevator-doors and the primary object of the invention is to provide a lock which when the door is moved into closed position, will automatically lock the door or when the door is nearly but not completely closed or when closed and the lock for any reason fails to operate, will likewise lock the door against opening.

ln some States the laws concerning elevator doors require that the door must lock when closed and also lock if only moved to within a few inches of closing position for example three inches. My invention contemplates the provision of a lock which will operate within such laws. l am aware of locks which lock when the door is closed a d also lock when the door is brought within a few inches of being closed, but in locks of this type it is possible for meddlesome or curious persons, or vandals to reach in behind or through the door, and unlock and then open it farther. W ith my lock it is impossible to open the door as ahove outlined since it is necessary to close the door when it is locked against opening in position short of being completely closed, before it can be opened. Thus, this practice of putting' the hand or an instrument between the door or through the door and j amb and unlocking' and opening the door is p vented and many accidents such as occur when elevator doors are left open will be avoided.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, and highly ellicient and reliable lock of the character described stallvd, will take up little room and which can be easily operated and controlled.

The invention possesses other advantmfes and features, some of which, with the foregoing will be set fest-h at length in the following description where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying` and forming' a part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction Specification of Letters Patent.

'and slidinO' doors 3 which may be easily Vin Patented J une 14, 1321. serial ne. arf/,20s.

of my invention but it is to be understood that .l do not limit myself to such form, since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referringv to the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of an elevator door unit showing` my invention applied thereto and in dotted lines as it would appear when the door is open.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2`2 of Fig. l.

Fig. is front elevation of the locking mechanism of my invention, Y Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken rough the locking` device soir-.ving the mechanism in the locked position assumed when the door is not fully closed but partially closed. also showing` the door operatingg` lever free and in unlocked position in dotted lines.

Fig. is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lock showing` the mechanism in positively locked position and also showing` the locking' member in releasing position in dotted lines.

l? 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5*@ of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing l frame for an elevator door Y mounted a stationary section of grating 2, an@ i. The doors are suspended on rollers which ride on a track G eiztending alone; `the top the frame l.

The door 3 is the outer door, and ahuts the jamb 7 whereas the door 4l 'the inner door and connected with the door 3. rilhis construction is commonly used in the majority ci oflice buildings and need not be further described. door operating' lever 3 is pivoted as at 9 to the sill or floor of the buildinfr behind the gratingv 2 and is slidably connected with .both doors. A roller l0 is carried on the lever at a point approximately centrally of the ends thereof and is arranged to move vertically in a guide ll therefor on the inner door 1l. A similar gue e l2 is carried on the door 3 and receives a flanged roller 13 carried on the outer end f the lever. Through this interconnection when the door 3 is opened it will move a distance substantially equal to its width before the door i will begin to open and this operation is likewise the case in shutting or closing the doors. This operation is common to elevator doors now in general use and need not be described in detail.

designates a unit in which are CIK 'l he means tor locking the doors in closed position automatically when the doors are fully closed comprises a latch handle 1d of spring metal, one end of which being extended as at 15, and astened as at 16 to the guide 12, leaving the handle portion 'free to be pulled outwardly away from the door against the inherent spring action oi the eX- tended portion.

Secured to the handle 1st is a latch lug 17 which extends through an opening 13 in the guide 12 into the path the roller 13. rllhe upper face et this lug 17 is curved downwardly and inwardly to allow the roller to torce the lug outwardly and to move past and below the lug. The lower iace is flat and acts as a stop to prevent the roller 13 from bein y moved past the lug.

Means rer preventing opening el the door when the door has not been closed sulliciently to be locked by the lug 17 but has been brought to within approximately three inches of closing position, comprises a latchlug 19 carried by leal'spring member 2O on the portion 15 et the handle 14. ri`he member 2() is fixed at one end to the portion 15 as at 21 and carries the lug 19 near its :tree end. This end is provided with a slot 22 in which a leaded stop 23 on the handle 14 is extended. This stop limits the movement of the memher 20. rllhe lug` 19 extends through an opening 2e'- in the guide 12, into the path ot the roller 13. The upper face et this lug is beveled as at 25 to permit the roller to be forced past the lug. This lug 19 is so arranged above the lug` 17 that the degree of movement permitted the roller 13 w ien between these lugs will be such as would allow the door 3 to be opened. only a slight distance. such as three inches, or to be Jully closed. rllhe movement ol' withdrawing the lng 17 also withdraws lug 19. L

l provide means lier lockingthe latch.

l'iandlaI 145-. against being operated to withdraw the latch lug 19, when the roller 13 is between the lugs 17 and .19 and the door is locked against opening in partially but not tully closed position. Tris means prevents the door from being` opened by unauthorized, :areless or meddlesome persons, from the i outside and requires that thedoor be lirst fully closed hete-re the latches 17 and 19 may he withdrawn and the door opened. This means preferably comprises a plunger 26 vertically movably mounted in a cylinder 27 which is suitably supported at the lower e1:- tremity of the guide 12. An expansion spring 28 is disposed between the lower end et the cylinder, and the plunger so as to hold the plunger in extended position normally. rllhe upper end et the plunger is biturcated as at 29 so as to'receive the lug 17 and slide Y past said lug as shown in et ot the drawings. A locking bolt 30 is4 slidable transversely through the cylinder 27 and is fixed at one end as at 31 to the latch handle 14. A stop member 32 is mounted on the other end ot the bolt to prevent withdrawal thereof from the cylinder 27. The plunger is out away as at 33 on one side thereof so as to be able slide up and down past the bolt. A shoulder is termed adjacent to the lower end of the plunger at the lower termination oi the cut away portion and is adapted to coact with a shoulder 35 'formed by recessing the bolt 30. rllhese shoulders coact when the roller 13 is free of the latch lug.17 and the plunger is in up position. TWhen these shoulders coact the bolt 30 cannot be moved and this holds the latch handle 141 against movement.

1n operation, when the door is being closed the flanged roller 13 moves into engagement with the latch lug 19, forces said lug outwardly against the spring action of the member 2O and moves past said lug and engages and passes the lug 17. The lug 17 will. snap bach into place and latch the roller 13. The roller thus held (see Fig. 5) prevents movement ol' the lever 8 and both the doors 3 and 4 are locked in closed position. E1s the roller 13 approaches the lug` 19 it engages and pushes down the plunger 26. The plunger is'thus held down while the door is locked by theV lug 17 and Lhe shoulder 241 on the plunger 26 is moved out ott engagement with the shoulder 35 on the bolt 30, as shown in Fig. 5. rThe bolt is then i'ree to slide and by grasping and pulling out on the handle 111 the latch lugs 17 and 19 will be withdrawn and the roller 13 being free to move in the guide 12, permits the doors to he opened in the ordinary manner. l@hould the door not be fully closed but nearly so the roller will move past the lu 19 and as it is then prevented from mov- D' back as in opening the d oor, by said lug, tl Vor is locked against further opening movement but may be moved so as to close.

llhen the roller 13 is 'in this position. as shown in Fig. e, the plunger 2G is -held in up position by the spring and the shoulders 311- and 35 on the plunger and bolt coact so that the bolt and handle 111 connected with the holt' cannot be moved. .fis the handle cannot be moi-:ed the lug 19 cannot be withdrawn, so it is therefore impossible to unloel and open the door without releasing he latch handle 141. To release the handle, theV door is closed and the roller 13 will depress the plunger 26. l/Vhen the plunger is depressed the holt 3() is 'lree to slide and the handle may be puled out to withdraw the lugs 17 and 19. rl`ie door is then free to be opened.

l claim 1. The combination with a door trame and a door therein, of means for locking the door against opening in partly closed and fully closed positions respectively, means lio for releasing said locking means, and means for preventing release of said locking means While the door is locked in partly closed position.

2. The combination W'ith a door frame and a sliding' door in said frame, of means for locking the door When the latter is moved into closed position, means for locking thev door against opening in partly closed position when the door fails to close but moves past predetermined point,

means for releasing both of said locking means, and means for holding the releasing means against operation While the door is loelred against opening in partly closed position.

3. The combination With a door frame, and a sliding door in said frame, of means for locking the door when the latter is moved into closed position, means for locking the door against opening in partly closed position when the door fails to close but moves past a predetermined point, means for releasing' both of said locking means and means which when the door is locked in partly closed position will hold the releasing means against operation and when the door is moved into closed from partly closed position will release the releasing means.

e. rihe combination With a door frame and a door therein of means for automatically locking the door in closed position, means which will automatically loclr the door against opening When the door fails to close but moves past a predetermined point, means for releasing` both said .locking means and means for automatically holding the releasing means against operation when the door is locked in partly closed position and for releasing said releasing means when the door is locked in closed position.

5. The combination With a door frame and a door slidably mounted in the frame, of a lever pivoted to the frame, a guide on the door7 a member on the lever and mounted to slide in said guide during` movement of the door, means to lock said member against movement when the door is closed, means for locking said member against movement such as will cause the door to open when the door fails to close and is Ll into partly closed position, means for ivithorawving and releasing' both said locking means, and means for holding the Withdrawing and releasing means against operation When the door is locked in partly closed position.

6. The combination with a door frame and a door slidably mounted in said frame of a lever pivoted to the frame, a guide on said door, a member on the lever which is mounted to slide in said guide during movement of the door, a latch lug extending into the path of said member for preventing movement of the member When the door is closed, a latch handle upon Which the lug is mounted fixed to the door for movement toward and away therefrom, a latch lug connected with the handle extending into the path of said member for preventing movement thereof to open the door When the latter is brought into nearly closed position and means which Will loclr the handle against operation when the door is locked in partly closed position and unloclr said handle when the door is locked in closed position.

7. The combination with a door frame and a door slidably mounted in said frame of a lever pivoted to the frame, a guide on said door, a member on the lever which is mounted to slide in said guide during movement of the door, a latch lug extending into the path of said member for preventing movement of the member when the door is closed, a latch handle upon which the lug is mounted lixed to the door for movement toward and aivay therefrom, a latch lug connected with the handle and extending into the path of said member for preventing movement thereof to open the door when the latter is brought into nearly closed position and means which Will lock the handle against operation when the door is locked in partly closed position and unlock said handle when the door is locked in closed position, said lugs being beveled on their upper faces to permit the member to move past the lugs during the closing movement of the door.

8. The combination with a door frame and a door slidably mounted in said frame of a lever pivoted to the frame, a guide on said door, a member on the lever Which is mounted to slide in said guide during movenient of the door, a latch lug extending into the path of said member' for preventing movementof the member when the door is closed., a latch handle upon which the lug is mounted fixed to the door for movement toward and away therefrom, a latch lug connected With the handle, and extending into the path of said member for preventingl movement thereof to open the door when the latter is brought into nearly closed position and means which Will lock the handle against operation When the door is locked in partly closed position, said lugs being beveled on their upper faces to permit the member to move past the lugs during the closing movement of the door and a spring member secured to said handle and to which the last named lug is attached.

9. The combination with a door frame and a door in said frame, ofa lever pivoted to the frame, a guide fixed to the door, a member on said lever arranged to move in said guide during movement of the door,

means to lock the member against movement when the door is closed, means for locking the member against movement in the direction such as will open the door when the latter is in partly closed position, means for releasing both oi'- said means, and means for preventing release of said last named locking means when the door is in partly closed position, and is locked against opening, comprising a cylinder on said guide, a plunger in the cylinder, a bolt mounted to slide crosswise of the plunger and connected with the releasing means, said bolt and plunger having shoulders thereon which coact to prevent movement of the bolt, and spring means to hold the plunger in up position and the shoulder in coperative position, said plunger normally extending above the first named locking means in the path of said member on the lever. Y

10. The combination with a door frame and a door in saidvframe, of means Jfor locking the door against opening when the door is partly but not completely closed, being unlocked only upon movement of the door into closed position and means for unlocking said locking means when the door is moved into closed position from said partly closed position.

HARRY BENSON. 

